Is stress perceived differently in relationships with parents and peers? Inter- and intra-regional comparisons on adolescents from 21 nations

Abstract

This study investigated how adolescents (mean age of 15 years) from 21 countries perceived parent- and peer-related stress. Across countries, adolescents perceived parent-related stress at considerably greater levels than peer-related stress. Adolescents assigned to six geographical regions differed significantly in overall stress levels as well as in the disparity between perceived stress levels in the parent and peer domain. Regional comparisons revealed that adolescents from Southern Europe exhibited the highest levels of parent-related stress, followed by adolescents from Latin America, the Middle East, and Asia. The stress levels of adolescents from Central European and North American countries were generally quite low. Correspondence analyses revealed distinctive patterns of perceived stress in close relationships, depending on the region. The discussion focuses on different parental styles and cultural values as potential influential factors for differences in stress perception between regions.